Page:History of the Haverel wives, or, The folly of witless women displayed (1).pdf/10

10 dirty ſherney-hought hizies i’ the pariſh maun hae the like or lang gae; but an I ware to preach, ſic pride ſoudna hae baith peace an property in my pariſh, I wou’d point out my very finger to them in the kirk, and name them baith name an ſirname, and ſay, There ſits ſharney Meg o’ the Mill, ſtumpy May o’ the Moſs, ſniveling Kate wi’ her hodle-makenſter-coat, they come into the kirk bobbing their hin-quarters like three water-wagtails, ſhaking their heads like a hunder pund horſe, ſmacking their lips, and hauding their mouth like May-paddocks; and what ſhall I compare them to, but painted Jezebels; the whore of Babylon, or Rachel the harlot, wi’ a’ their gaudy decoying colours, high taps, and ſpread glittering tails, whan they come ſailing into the houſe o’ prayer, as it were a houſe o’ dancing and debauſhery: Go, go, ye painted piſewips to fairs and weddings, and there display your proud banners of pride, which you are puffed up with, it is the very ſpirit o’ the devil, and unbecoming o’ the houſe o’ prayer: But if these gillygaukies ſhou’d come into the kirk wi’ their heels up and their heads down, our Meſs John is become like ane o’ the dogs of Egypt, he’ll no move his tongue, and I believe he darna for Clippock his wife; wha’s element is to banter a’ the poor beggars frae her door, nane can ſtand her but the tinkler-wives, and ſhe’s ay whinging about charity, but it’s to herſel, ſhe wadha pity the criple on the blind’s back,